House of Social Food Hall
Demi Sheridan, Editorial AssistantVisit now
House of Social Food Hall

The newest addition to Manchester’s First Street, House of Social is primarily a student accommodation, but at its base lies a 12,000-square-foot food and drink space featuring five independent kitchens and a central 360 bar. Barely 50 metres from the beloved HOME theatre, the new food hall blends nicely into the effortlessly chill vibe and creative energy of this corner of the city. With household favourites such as Bunny Jacksons and Gas Works as neighbours, House of Social aims to bring a real sense of community to First Street.

Created by former Mackie Mayor director Jake Atkinson in partnership with Vita Group, this new hub is designed to be a cool, refreshing space for residents and the general public. The wider development will include apartments (obviously), a fitness studio, co-working space with pool tables for fun work breaks, a private dining area, coffee bar and, of course, the food hall.
Spread across two floors, there’s space for hundreds of diners, cocktail drinkers and coffee sippers, all supplied by some of the UK’s top food and drink traders. Atkinson and Vita are working closely with local breweries, adopting a rotating line-up of beers including Shindigger. Spirits will be stocked by Hammonds of Knutsford, and coffee comes straight from Blossom Coffee Roasters in Trafford Park.

Now, let’s talk food! Five independent kitchens, five different cuisines. We started with Ok Taqueria, with a touch of California flair and a whole lot of flavour. Keeping it simple, you’ve got the meat option or the veggie. I went for the meat option. The first taco, Crispy Pork Belly Al Pastor with green and red salsa. I never thought I would describe a crispy crackling and pork scratching topped taco as fresh tasting, but it was. The salsa and lime added a gentle kick. The second, a Birria Beef Shin Taco with queso fundido and consommé, quickly became my favourite, the pulled-pork-like filling elevated by coriander, onion, and house seasoning.
Over to Choi Wan, a cheeky and fun new concept by restaurateur Victor Yu, a modern take on traditional Hong Kong cuisine. Choi Wan was serving up Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings, Warburton’s Prawn Toast Crumpet, Chicken Curry or Veggie Satay with half rice and half chips. That’s hard to beat. The full menu is said to be drawn from family recipes, traditions and flavours Victor grew up with. Items like Chicken Bamboo and a Chinese take on a full rotisserie Chicken will be available from opening day.
And that’s just the food I tried. There’s also Burger & Beyond, described as “the best burger ever” by Jake Atkinson himself. This will be the brand’s first venue outside London, and excitement is high. Next, we have Mughli, the longstanding authentic Punjabi restaurant that has been based in Rusholme for more than 30 years. We know it, we love it, and we think you will too. Lastly, pizza. Dough Religion’s style is driven by a deep love of proper fermentation, a passion for tradition, and creative toppings.

House of Social is exactly what it says on the tin: the new social hub of First Street. A food-led venue, yes, but keep your eyes on their socials for news of regular music events, DJ nights, workshops and pop-up shops. Live the life of a student again, even if you’re not one. I’m not, but I’ll definitely be going back.